Public artist Rick Lowe, an artist-in-residence at the Nasher Sculpture Center, has been named a 2014 MacArthur fellow. He is
the founder of Project Row Houses, a non-profit community art project dedicated to rebuilding
houses in the Third Ward section of Houston, Texas. Also known as the
“genius grant,” the award is a cash gift of $625,000 to be paid over a
five-year period.
Each year, the foundation, which began in 1975, selects a talented group of people based on their outstanding contributions to their respective industries. This year, the list of 21 fellows were chosen primarily from the arts, social sciences and the legal communities.
The Nasher Center released the following statement in praise of Lowe’s work: ?We are delighted that the MacArthur Foundation has recognized Nasher artist-in-residence Rick Lowe for his extraordinary achievements with projects like?Nasher XChange?and?Project Row Houses?that are designed to foster social change through art. His work in Dallas in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood continues as a transformative site of social and cultural interaction, helping change our relationship to this vibrant area of the city. The MacArthur Fellowship will allow Lowe to further his artistic efforts toward bridging the gaps between art and everyday life in urban areas.?
Past notable, recipients of the award have included artist Carrie Mae Weems, economist Roland Fryer and public historian Tiya Miles.
